Ancelotti makes a case for the defence

Soccer:Carlo Ancelotti has hailed Ashley Cole as “the best left-back in the world” amid renewed reports linking the Chelsea star with a move to Paris St Germain.

PSG boss Ancelotti, who managed Cole for two years at Stamford Bridge, insisted rumours his big-spending side were interested in signing top players was “normal.” England defender Cole is in the final year of his Chelsea contract and there are suggestions he is struggling to reach an agreement over an extension.

There would be no shortage of suitors for the 31-year-old were he to quit the European champions and asked about reports PSG would be one of them, Ancelotti admitted: “This is normal because a lot of players are linked with Paris St Germain in the market. The newspapers said that 100 players could come here.

“For this season, we have a very good squad but next year, I don’t know what is going on. Ashley Cole is the best left-back in the world at the moment.”

Ancelotti also hit out at the English Football Association’s decision to find John Terry guilty of using racist language towards Anton Ferdinand. “It is unbelievable — John Terry doesn’t deserve this,” said Ancelotti of his former captain, who was cleared of a similar charge by Westminster Magistrates Court in July.

“I cannot understand how the FA can make a different decision. I think that it is really strange.” Ancelotti was “really surprised” by the whole saga, which has dragged on for almost a year.

He added: “He has a really fantastic relationship with everyone. I am sure he is not racist; 100%.” Terry quit England on the eve of his FA hearing, accusing English football’s governing body of making his position “untenable”.

Ancelotti said: “I don’t think he’ll come back to play for England and I think that is a good decision. It is a bad thing for England, for sure, because John Terry did a lot of things for the national team.”

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